Sagnlandet Lejre

About the museum

The center was founded in 1964 as Lejre Forsøgscenter to gain new knowledge about the past through experiments. To this day the nonprofit institution combines experimental archaeology with public outreach: its statutory purpose is to carry out ethnological, historical, and archaeological experiments and to pass on the results in research, teaching, and offerings for the public. Queen Margrethe has been its patron since 2003.

On about 43 hectares of hill, forest, and lake landscape stand reconstructed living sites from several eras: a reindeer hunter's tent, a Maglemose hut, and an Ertebølle living site from the Stone Age, the Iron Age village Lethra with thatched houses and a smithy, a Viking area, and the Krikkebjerghuse, two smallholdings modeled on examples from the 1850s. In addition there are workshops for pottery and textiles as well as old breeds of domestic animals.

The centerpiece of the Viking area is the reconstructed royal hall. It is modeled on a hall building of well over 60 meters in length excavated in 2009 in nearby Gammel Lejre, the largest known building of the Viking Age in Denmark. It supports the significance of Lejre as a possible seat of rulers, which the sagas connect with the Skjoldung dynasty.

The latest addition is "Den Vilde Vej," a 330-meter-long, low-barrier treetop walkway over hills and animal enclosures, the first part of the foundation-funded project "Dyrenes Sagnland." In summer, families live for a week as holiday guests in the reconstructions and thereby contribute to the experiments.

Highlights

• Reconstruction of the largest known royal hall of the Viking Age in Denmark
• Iron Age village Lethra with thatched houses
• Stone Age living sites with dugout canoe rides on the lake
• Treetop walkway "Den Vilde Vej" (330 m, up to 8 m high)
• Smallholder houses Krikkebjerghuse from the 1850s
• Båldalen with campfire, axe chopping, and flour grinding

Permanent exhibitions

• Kongehallen – Reconstruction of a royal hall over 60 m long from the early Viking Age based on an excavation find from Gammel Lejre, the centerpiece of the Viking area.
• Jernalderlandsbyen Lethra – Iron Age village with thatched clay houses, a smithy, and animals, brought to life by interpreters and holiday guests.
• Stenalderen – Living sites by the lake from the reindeer hunter's tent through the Maglemose hut to the Ertebølle living site with dugout canoes.

Founded

1964

Director

Lars Holten

Admission & discounts

The ticket is valid from the date of purchase for the entire current calendar year. Adult and child tickets are available online and at the ticket desk, all others at the ticket desk only. Free admission with the Copenhagen Card as well as ICOM, ODM, VPAC, and Vikingebuen ID. Dogs on a leash free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Large natural grounds with gravel, forest, and meadow paths. From the entrance, a 300 m long firm gravel path leads to the royal hall, with benches along the way. The blue route (1 km) is suitable for most manual wheelchairs and strollers, partly difficult for electric wheelchairs; the yellow route (3 km) is not passable. The royal hall has thresholds under 1.5 cm, and there are ramps in the Iron Age village and at the workshops. The treetop walkway "Den Vilde Vej" has a gradient of at most 6 degrees. Accessible restrooms in the welcome center and at Café Hvidesøhus. For people with autism there is a preparation presentation from AutismGoTo.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

In the Båldalen, families can chop wood with Iron Age axes, grind flour, and bake cookies, paddle a dugout canoe with a life jacket, and prepare food brought from home over the fire (grill grates, popcorn pans, and bread-on-a-stick sticks available to borrow). In the houses you may sit on the beds and touch objects; there are many animals of old breeds. In summer, families can live for a week as a "Fortidsfamilie" (prehistoric family) in the Iron Age village, with the Vikings, or on the farm. Strollers do well on the blue route and the treetop walkway, but not on the yellow route.

Getting there & parking

About 7 km from Roskilde; by bike via Ledreborg Allé or the national bike routes 4 and 6 (just under an hour from Roskilde Station).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Café Hvidesøhus in a half-timbered house from 1763 with homemade lunch dishes, sandwiches, and cake; picnic packages on advance order (cafe@sagnlandet.dk). Shop at the entrance. Luggage lockers in the welcome center. In the Båldalen, food brought from outside may be grilled over the fire. Dogs on a leash welcome.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Conferences and seminars in the royal hall, the modern rooms Ravnesalen and Hugin & Munin, and outside opening hours in Café Hvidesøhus; the royal hall can also be booked for celebrations, team building, and film shoots. Catering and activities can be added.

Plan your visit